Decorative spa surround

ABSTRACT

A decorative kit for a spa or pool comprising first, second, third and fourth side panels, each having a decoratively surfaced outer face; first, second, third and fourth decoratively surfaced corner panels so shaped and dimensioned as to integrally mate with the side panels to form a decorative enclosure about a spa or pool; and a front step dimensioned to integrally mount adjacent a selected side of the enclosure. The kit further includes first and second side rails and a rear side rail for mounting about the upper edge of an enclosed spa to create a ledge around the upper perimeter of the spa.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

This disclosure relates to water containing vessels such as spas,whirlpools, pools and the like and more particularly to a decorative spasurround for a portable spa.

2. Description of Related Art

Portable spas have become quite popular as a result of their ease of useand multiplicity of features such as varied jet and seatingconfigurations. Typically, such portable spas have been self-contained,above-ground units shipped from the factory complete with their exteriorsurfacing in place.

SUMMARY

The following is a summary description of an illustrative embodiment ofthe invention. It is provided as a preface to assist those skilled inthe art to more rapidly assimilate the detailed design discussion whichensues and is not intended in any way to limit the scope of the claimswhich are appended hereto in order to particularly point out theinvention.

According to the illustrative embodiment, a decorative surround kit fora spa or pool is provided, which includes first, second, third andfourth side panels, each having a decoratively surfaced outer face andfirst, second, third and fourth decoratively surfaced corner panels soshaped and dimensioned as to integrally mate with the side panels toform an enclosure about a spa or pool.

The kit may further include a front step dimensioned to integrally mountadjacent a selected side of the enclosure. In such an embodiment, theheight of the first side panel and first and second corner panels may beselected to be less than that of each of the remaining side and cornerpanels to facilitate mounting of the front step adjacent the enclosure.The kit may further include first and second side rails and a rear siderail for mounting about the upper edge of an enclosed spa to create aledge about the spa perimeter.

DRAWINGS

The features and objects of the present disclosure will become moreapparent with reference to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like referencenumerals denote like elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a decorative spa surround kitaccording to an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the spa kit of FIG. 1 after assembly;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the assembled kit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front side view of the assembled kit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a spa kit on a deck prior toassembly about a spa;

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view illustrating attachment of a frontpanel of the spa kit;

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view illustrating installation of a righttop side rail component;

FIG. 8 is another perspective view illustrating side rail installation;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating installation of a left cornerpanel;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating installation of a back panelcomponent; and

FIG. 11 is a front perspective view illustrating installation of a frontstep component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A decorative panel surround spa kit 11 is illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. Thekit 11 includes four side panels, 13, 15, 17, 19; four corner panels 21,23, 25, 27; three side rails 29, 31, 33 and a front step 35. Each of thepanels and side rails is provided with suitable screw holes, e.g. 12, tofacilitate attachment to a spa unit, e.g. 51 (FIG. 5).

Each of side panels 13, 15, 17, 19 is generally rectangular in shape andhas tongue and grooved side edges, e.g. 37, 39. The front panel 19 is ofa height “h₁” less than that of the other three side panels 13, 15, 17to accommodate insertion and attachment of the front step 35 beneath itslower edge 44. The front panel 19 also has an opening 45 formed thereinto facilitate access to a spa control panel 63 (FIG. 5).

The panel 19 further has a lip 46 formed at the top edge thereof, whichis recessed back from the front face 48 of the panel 19. In anillustrative embodiment, the lip may be, for example, 0.88 inches high,0.75 inches wide and recessed 0.75 inches from the front face 48. In oneembodiment, the lip 46 fits up and behind the overlapping edge of a spashell when the front panel is installed in the manner as shown in FIG.6.

Each of the corner panels 21, 23, 25, 27, has tongue and grooved sideedges, e.g. 41, 43 and is radially curved or arched through ninetydegrees so as to mate at each end in tongue and groove fashion with arespective edge, e.g., 37, 39, of one of the side panels 13, 15, 17, 19.In an illustrative embodiment, the two front corner panels 21, 27 areshorter in height “h₂” than the height of “h₃” of the rear corner panels23, 25, again to accommodate insertion of the front of step 35 into itsassembled position. The height “h₂” of the front corner panels 21, 27 isalso less than the height “h₁” of the front panel 19 in order toaccommodate the width of the side rails 29, 33 in the embodiment underdiscussion. The various heights h₁, h₂, h₃ and their relationship to oneanother may differ in various embodiments.

Two of the side rails 29, 33 have respective curved ends, 55, 57, 59,61, two of which curve into and abut respective ends 58, 60 of the backside rail 31. Each of the rails 29, 31, 33 is of a width “w” selected toextend beyond the lip 101 of a spa shell, e.g. 50, FIG. 5, to form aledge 104, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

All of the components illustrated in FIG. 1 may be made of urethane foamand may be finished or decoratively surfaced on their outer faces togive the appearance, for example, of brick or stone facing. Suchdecorative surfacing is illustrated in FIGS. 5-11, but is omitted inFIGS. 1-4 for clarity of illustration. The side panels 13, 15, 17, 19and corner pieces 21, 23, 25, 27 may be fabricated from 15 lb. densityurethane foam, while the front step 35 may be fabricated from 60 lb.density foam.

In an illustrative embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the height “A” of thepanel and step assembly may be, e.g. 20 inches, with respect to theheight “B” of a spa 51 of, e.g. 48 inches. Thus, the surround kit of theillustrative embodiment can be installed on a spa 51 which is sunk intoa surrounding deck 103 to form an attractive and highly functional sparecreational facility. Alternatively, spa surround panels such asillustrated may run the full height of the spa in an entirelyout-of-ground or out-of-deck installation.

The manner of installation of the illustrative spa surround kit isfurther illustrated in FIGS. 5-11. Initially, as shown in FIG. 5, thespa unit 51 is provided with an outer perimeter side surface comprisinga flat wood facing, e.g. 65, 66, such as, for example, ¾″ plywoodsuitably cut to provide access to the spa control panel 63 and spaequipment compartment 65 (FIG. 6) containing, for example, a pump andfilter and/or other controls.

As further shown in FIG. 5, the panels, side rails, and corner pieces,e.g. 17, 19, 27, 33 are first laid out on the deck 103 around the spaunit 51. Then the front panel 19 may be installed around the controlpanel 52 using, e.g. screw fasteners, as shown in FIG. 6.

Next, the side rails 29, 31, 33 are each installed, beginning, forexample, with attachment of the right side rail 33 and then the leftside rail 29, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, and then the back siderail 31. After installation, the side rails 29, 31, 33 are eachpositioned flush against the plywood facing, e.g. 65, and flush againstthe overlapping spa edge 101 and screwed or otherwise fastened intosuitably disposed wood framing.

After installation of the side rails 29, 31, 33, the remaining panels,21, 13, 23, 15, 25, 17, 27 are successively installed beginning, forexample, with the left corner panel 21 (FIG. 9) and proceeding clockwisearound the spa unit 51, see e.g. FIGS. 9, 10. The top edges of thepanels 21, 13, 23, 15, 25, 17, 27 are positioned with their top edgesflush against the underside of the side rails 29, 31, 33 and with theirinner side surfaces flush against the plywood side panels and thenscrewed or otherwise fastened into place. Finally, the front step 35 isplaced against the left side of the unit (FIG. 11), then pushed into itsfinished position, and finally fastened in place, e.g. by suitablescrews or other fasteners.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations andmodifications of the just described embodiment can be configured withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it isto be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, theinvention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.

1. A decorative kit for a spa or pool comprising: first, second, thirdand fourth side panels, each having a decoratively surfaced outer face;first, second, third and fourth corner panels so shaped and dimensionedas to integrally mate with said side panels to form an enclosure about aspa or pool, said corner panels further each having a decorativelysurfaced outer face; and a front step dimensioned to integrally mountadjacent a selected side of said enclosure.
 2. The kit of claim 1wherein said first side panel mates with said first and second cornerpanels and wherein the height of said first side panel and said firstand second corner panels is selected to be less than that of each of theouter side and corner panels to facilitate mounting of said front stepadjacent said enclosure.
 3. The kit of claim 1 further including firstand second side rails and a rear side rail for mounting about an upperedge of an enclosed spa or pool.
 4. The kit of claim 3 wherein each saidside rail has a width selected to extend beyond the outer edge of thespa or pool to form a ledge about the spa or pool.
 5. The kit of claim 3wherein, in an installed position, each said rail fits up against theside of the spa between an outer edge of said spa or pool and the upperedge of each of a respective one of said side panels.
 6. The kit ofclaim 1 wherein each of said side panels is generally rectangular inshape.
 7. The kit of claim 1 wherein each of said corner panels engagesa respective pair of said side panels in tongue and groove fashion. 8.Apparatus comprising: a fluid containing vessel; first, second, thirdand fourth side panels, each having a decoratively surfaced outer face;first, second, third and fourth corner panels so shaped and dimensionedas to integrally mate with said side panels to form an enclosure aboutsaid vessel, said corner panels further each having a decorativelysurfaced outer face; and a front step dimensioned to integrally mountadjacent a selected side of said enclosure.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1wherein said first side panel mates with said first and second cornerpanels and wherein the height of said first side panel and said firstand second corner panels is selected to be less than that of each of theouter side and corner panels to facilitate mounting of said front stepadjacent said enclosure.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 further includingfirst and second side rails and a rear side rail for mounting about anupper edge of an enclosed spa.
 11. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein eachsaid side rail has a width selected to extend beyond the outer edge ofthe spa or pool to form a ledge about the spa or pool.
 12. The apparatusof claim 3 wherein, in an installed position, each said rail fits upagainst the side of the spa between an outer edge of said spa or pooland the upper edge of each of a respective one of said side panels. 13.The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said side panels is generallyrectangular in shape.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of saidcorner panels engages a respective pair of said side panels in tongueand groove fashion.
 15. The apparatus comprising: a spa unit having anouter perimeter side surface of a selected contour; and a plurality ofmating panels each having a decoratively surfaced outer face, the panelsbeing shaped to follow said outer perimeter side surface and beingattached to said spa unit.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1 furthercomprising a front step dimensioned to mount adjacent a selected side ofsaid spa unit.
 17. The apparatus of claim 1 further including aplurality of side rails for mounting about an upper edge of said spaunit.
 18. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each said side rail has awidth selected to extend beyond the outer edge of the spa unit to form aledge about the spa unit.
 19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each ofsaid panels mates with another of said panels in tongue and groovefashion.